Cooperative deer, the right light/conditions, it's the rut, and I've spend a lot of years studying mule deer habits as well as following this particular heard, so I know where they live and how and where to find them during certain periods of the year. . . I also know my equipment very well and how to get into position to get the shot that I know I want.

I think about what shots I want before I go. I do shoot a lot of off the cuff stuff, but I have a mental list of the shots that I want and the conditions under which I may find them. AND, I'm in the field a lot AND READY for the shots. Because I spend so much time with the deer, I have learned to anticipate their actions, which helps me to get into the right positions for the shot. It takes me DAYS to accumulate these kinds of shot. I shoot 200 okay shots for every 1 that is great.

I also am a very avid big game hunter, I shoot at least on mule deer buck a year, and sometimes more, and have always been fascinated with/by mule deer! So, I'm dedicated and persistent.

The snow shots were taken at 0 degrees F!! Ever spend 5 hours in zero degrees taking photos? The only tough thing is the hands. I use those disposable hand warmers inside mittens. I wear thin leather palmed glove liners and just slip my hands inside the mittens about every 20 minutes. A few times per day, when my hands warm up, the pain almost makes me cry! I'm sure you know the feeling when your hands get so cold that the acid builds up in them and then when they warm up, it stings like they are on fire!

I also carry two spare sets of batteries, just in case. My Nikon batteries do VERY well in cold conditions. I think I can get about 400-500 shots on one charge, in the cold, shooting a vibration reduction and AFS lenses, lots more if I were shooting manual lenses.

Thanks for your kind words, and for asking. . .